Regiospecific synthesis of nicotine derivatives

ABSTRACT

Methods of synthesizing nicotine analogs and derivatives are described. The methods are particularly useful for the regioselective production of enantiomerically pure nicotine anlogs having substituents at the C4 position. Intermediates useful for the synthesis of such compounds are also described.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to and is a divisional of U.S. patentapplication No. Ser. 10/715,147 filed Nov. 17, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No.7,112,678 the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns methods and intermediates useful for theregiospecific synthesis of compounds active for modulating nicotinicacetylcholine receptors.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Acetylcholine receptors are involved in the modulation of of a varietyof physiological and behavioral functions, including neuroendocrinefunction, respiration, mood, motor control and function, focus andattention, concentration, memory and cognition, and substance abuse.Ligands for acetylcholine receptors have been demonstrated to haveeffects on attention, cognition, appetite, substance abuse, memory,extrapyramidal function, cardiovascular function, pain andgastrointestinal motility and function. The distribution ofacetylcholine receptors that bind nicotine, i.e., nicotinicacetylcholine receptors, is widespread in the brain. In the periphery,acetylcholine receptors are found in muscle, autonomic ganglia, thegastrointestinal tract and the cardiovascular system (see, e.g., U.S.Pat. No. 5,594,011).

Acetylcholine receptors have been shown to be decreased, among otherthings, in the brains of patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease,and Parkinson's disease, as well as diseases associated with dementia,motor dysfunction and cognitive impairment. Such correlations betweenacetylcholine receptors and nervous system disorders suggest thatcompounds that modulate acetylcholine receptors will have beneficialtherapeutic effects for many human nervous system disorders. U.S. Pat.No. 5,594,011 to McDonald et al., assigned to SIBIA Neuroscience,describes compounds such as SIB-1508Y that modulate nicotinicacetylcholine receptors. Such compounds are useful for, among otherthings, the treatment of Parkinson's disease. See also U.S. Pat. No.5,723,477 to McDonald et al. Unfortunately, nicotine analogs aredifficult compounds to synthesize, and there is a continuing need fornew methods of making the same, as well as intermediates useful for thesynthesis of nicotine analogs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In general, the present invention provides regiospecific methods for theproduction of enantiomerically pure nicotine analogs bearingsubstituents other than hydrogen at the C4 position.

Accordingly, a first aspect of the present invention is a regiospecificmethod of making a compound of Formula I:

wherein:

R⁴ is alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl or SiR²⁰R²¹R²², wherein R²⁰, R²¹ andR²² are each independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl,alkenyl, alkynyl and aryl;

R¹ is alkyl, aryl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkoxy, —N″₂ or —SR″, where R″ isalkyl, aryl, alkenyl, alkynyl, or alkoxy;

R², R⁵, and R⁶ are each independently selected from the group consistingof H, alkyl, aryl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkoxy, and halo;

R⁷ is selected from the group consisting of consisting of H and alkyl;

A is a 1, 2 or 3 atom bridging species which forms part of a saturatedor monounsaturated 5-, 6- or 7-membered ring including N⁷, C⁸, C″ and B;

B is selected from —O—, —S—, —NR¹⁰—, wherein R¹⁰ is selected fromhydrogen, alkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, alkylaryl, substitutedalkylaryl, arylalkyl, substituted arylalkyl; —C¹⁰HR^(10a)—, whereinR^(10a) is selected from hydrogen, alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, aryl,aryloxyalkyl, fluoro, trifluoromethyl, cyano, cyanomethyl, —OR′, —NR′₂,or —SR′, wherein each R′ is independently hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl,alkynyl or aryl, provided, however, that neither the —NR′₂ nor the —SR′functionality is conjugated with an alkenyl or alkynyl functionality; orB is ═C¹⁰R^(10a) or ═N—, preferably provided there is no double bond inthe ring between A and B, or between B and C⁹ when there is a doublebond between N⁷ and C⁸, and preferably provided that B is not aheteroatom when A is a 1 atom bridging species; and

R⁹ and R^(9a) are each independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl,hydroxyalkyl, aryl, aryloxyalkyl, fluoro, trifluoromethyl, cyano,cyanomethyl, —OR′, —NR′₂, or —SR′, wherein each R′ is as defined above,preferably provided, however, that neither the —NR′₂ nor the —SR′functionality is conjugated with an alkenyl or alkynyl functionality;comprising:

reacting an organometallic nucleophile R⁴Met, where R⁴ is as given aboveand Met is a metal, with a compound of the formula:

wherein A, B, R², R⁵, R⁶, R⁷, R⁹, and R^(9a) are as given above, and acompound of the formula R¹COX¹, wherein R¹ is as given above and X¹ ishalo, to produce a compound of Formula I.

A second aspect of the present invention is a compound of Formula I:

wherein:

A, B, R¹, R², R⁴, R⁵, R⁶, R⁷, R⁹, and R^(9a) are as described above.Optionally but preferably the compound is enantiomerically pure.

A further aspect of the present invention is a method of making acompound of Formula II:

wherein A, B, R², R⁴, R⁵, R⁶, R⁷, R⁹, and R^(9a) are as described above;

comprising oxidizing a compound of Formula I:

wherein A, B, R¹, R², R⁴, R⁵, R⁶, R⁷, R⁹, and R^(9a) are as given aboveto produce a compound of Formula II.

A further aspect of the present invention is an enantiomerically pureC4-substituted nicotine analog produced by the method described above(i.e., a compound of Formula II). An example of a particular embodimentis an enantiomerically pure compound of Formula II:

wherein R⁴ is as described above; and A, B, R², R⁵, R⁶, R⁷, R⁹, andR^(9a) are as described above; subject to the proviso that R⁴ isdifferent from at least one of (and in some embodiments all of) R², R⁵and R⁶. Another embodiment is an enantiomerically pure compound ofFormula II:

wherein R⁴ is SiR²⁰R²¹R²², wherein R²⁰, R²¹ and R²² are as given above;and A, B, R², R⁵, R⁶, R⁷, R⁹, and R^(9a) are as described above.

A further aspect of the present invention is a method of making acompound of Formula III:

wherein:

A, B, R², R⁵, R⁶, R⁷, R⁹, and R^(9a) are as described above; comprisingoxidizing a compound of Formula II:

wherein A, B, R², R⁵, R⁶, R⁷, R⁹, and R^(9a) are as given above, and R⁴is SiR²⁰R²¹R²², wherein R²⁰, R²¹ and R²² are each independently selectedfrom the group consisting of alkyl alkenyl, alkynyl and aryl in a polarprotic solvent to produce a compound of Formula III.

A still farther aspect of the present invention is an enantiomericallypure compound of Formula III as described above.

The foregoing and other objects and aspects of the present invention areexplained in greater detail below.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

“Alkyl” as used herein refers to straight or branched chain alkyl groupshaving in the range of about 1 up to 12, 20, or 30 carbon atoms. In someembodiments the alkyl can be a lower alkyl. “Lower alkyl” refers tostraight or branched chain alkyl radicals having in the range of about 1up to 6 carbon atoms. Alkyl and lower alkyl may be substituted orunsubstituted unless specified otherwise herein; “substituted alkyl”refers to alkyl, cycloalkyl or lower alkyl groups further bearing one ormore substituents such as hydroxy, alkoxy (of a lower alkyl group),aryl, mercapto (of a lower alkyl group), halogen, trifluoronmethyl,cyano, nitro, amino, carboxyl, carbamate, sulfonyl, silyl, sulfonamide,and the like. Representative examples of alkyl include, but are notlimited to, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl,iso-butyl, tert-butyl, n-pentyl, isopentyl, neopentyl, n-hexyl,3-methylhexyl, 2,2-dimethylpentyl, 2,3-dimethylpentyl, n-heptyl,n-octyl, n-nonyl, n-decyl, cyclohexyl, and the like.

“Alkoxy” as used herein refers to a compound of the formula RO—, where Ris alkyl or lower alkyl (which may be substituted or unsubstitued unlessspecified otherwise) as given above.

“Alkenyl” refers to straight or branched chain hydrocarbyl groups suchas alkyl or lower alkyl groups as described above (and which may besubstituted or unsubstituted unless specified otherwise) and having, atleast one carbon-carbon double bond.

“Alkynyl” refers to straight or branched chain hydrocarbyl groups suchas alkyl or lower alkyl groups as described above (and which may besubstituted or unsubstituted unless specified otherwise) and having, atleast one carbon-carbon triple bond.

“Aryl,” as used herein, refers to a monocyclic carbocyclic orheterocyclic ring system or a bicyclic carbocyclic or heterocyclic fusedring system having one or more aromatic rings. Examples of aryl includebut are not limited to azulenyl, indanyl, indenyl, naphthyl, phenyl,tetrahydronaphthyl, and the like. The aryl groups may be substituted orunsubstituted unless specified otherwise and when substituted can forexample be substituted with 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 substituents independentlyselected from alkyl, alkenyl, alkenyloxy, alkoxy, alkoxyalkoxy,alkoxycarbonyl, alkylcarbonyl, alkylcarbonyloxy, alkylsulfinyl,alkylsulfonyl, alkylthio, alkynyl, aryl, aryloxy, azido, arylalkoxy,arylalkyl, aryloxy, carboxy, cyano, formyl, halogen, haloalkyl,haloalkoxy, hydroxy, hydroxyalkyl, mercapto, nitro, sulfamyl, sulfo,sulfonate, —NR′R″ (wherein R′ and R″ are independently selected fromhydrogen, alkyl, alkylcarbonyl, aryl, arylalkyl and formyl), and—C(O)NR′R″ (wherein R′ and R″ are independently selected from hydrogen,alkyl, alkylcarbonyl, aryl, arylalkyl, and formyl).

“Organometallic nucleophile” are generally expressed as R⁴Met, where Metis a suitable metal such as magnesium, manganese, lithium, sodium,copper, cerium, zinc, cadmium, aluminum or titanium. Additional groupsR⁴ may optionally be present and a halide may optionally be present asis known in the art. Suitable organometallic nucleophiles includeGrignard reagents.

“Grignard reagent” as used herein refers to an organomagnesium halides.R⁴MgX, having a carbon—magnesium or silicon—magnesium bond (or theirequilibrium mixtures in solution with R⁴ ₂Mg÷MgX₂), wherein R⁴ is ahydrocarbyl or silyl group such as alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl or aryl, or acorresponding silyl group.

“Halo” refers to fluoro, chloro, bromo or iodo.

The disclosures of all United States patent references cited herein areto be incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Starting materials for the reactions described herein include bothnicotine and nicotine analogs and derivatives, including analogssubstituted at the 2, 5 and 6 position, including but not limited tothose described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,594,011 and 5,723,477 (includingboth novel compounds described therein and known compounds describedtherein). Examples of such starting materials are are illustrated byFormulas i-ii below:

wherein:

R², R⁵, and R⁶ are each independently selected From the group consistingof H, alkyl, aryl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkoxy, and halo, preferably H oralkyl (e.g. methyl);

R⁷ is selected from the group consisting of H and alkyl (e.g., methyl);

A is a 1, 2 or 3 atom bridging species which forms part of a saturatedor monounsaturated 5-, 6- or 7-membered ring including N⁷, C⁸, C⁹ and B;

B is selected from —O—, —S—, NR¹⁰—, wherein R¹⁰ is selected fromhydrogen, alkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, alkylaryl, substitutedalkylaryl, arylalkyl, substituted arylalkyl; —C¹⁰HR^(10a)—, whereinR^(10a) is selected from hydrogen, alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, aryl,aryloxyalkyl, fluoro, trifluoromethyl, cyano, cyanomethyl, —OR′, —NR′₂,or —SR′, wherein each R′ is independently hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl,alkynyl or aryl, preferably provided, however, that neither the —NR′₂nor the —SR′ functionality is conjugated with an alkenyl or alkynylfunctionality; or B is ═C¹⁰C^(10a) or ═N—, preferably provided there isno double bond in the ring between A and B, or between B and C⁹ whenthere is a double bond between N⁷ and C⁸, and preferably provided that Bis not a heteroatom when A is a 1 atom bridging species; and

R⁹ and R^(9a) are each independently selected hydrogen, alkyl,hydroxyalkyl, aryl, aryloxyalkyl, fluoro, trifluoromethyl, cyano,cyanomethyl, —OR′, —NR′₂, or —SR′, wherein each R′ is as defined above,preferably provided, however, that neither the —NR′₂ nor the —SR′functionality is conjugated with an alkenyl or alkynyl functionality.

As noted above, a first aspect of the present invention is aregiospecific method of making a compound of Formula I:

wherein:

R⁴ is alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl or SiR²⁰R²¹R²², wherein R²⁰, R²¹ andR²² are each independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl,alkenyl, alkynyl and aryl;

R¹ is alkyl, aryl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkoxy, —NR″₂ or —SR″, where R″ isalkyl, aryl, alkenyl, alkynyl, or alkoxy:

R², R⁵, and R⁶ are each independently selected from the group consistingof H, alkyl, aryl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkoxy, and halo;

R⁷ is selected from the group consisting of consisting of H and alkyl;

A is a 1, 2 or 3 atom bridging species which forms part of a saturatedor monounsaturated 5-, 6- or 7-membered ring including N⁷, C⁸, C⁹ and B;

B is selected from —O—, —S—, —NR¹⁰—, wherein R¹⁰ is selected fromhydrogen, alkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, alkylaryl, substitutedalkylaryl, arylalkyl, substituted arylalkyl; —C¹⁰HR^(10a)—, whereinR^(10a) is selected from hydrogen, alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, aryl,aryloxyalkyl, fluoro, trifluoromethyl, cyano, cyanomethyl, —OR′, —NR′₂,or —SR′, wherein each R′ is independently hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl,alkynyl or aryl, provided, however, that neither the —NR′₂, nor the —SR′functionality is conjugated with an alkenyl or alkynyl functionality; orB is ═C¹⁰R^(10a) or ═N—, preferably provided there is no double bond inthe ring between A and B, or between B and C⁹ when there is a doublebond between N⁷ and C⁸, and preferably provided that B is not aheteroatom when A is a 1 atom bridging species; and

R⁹ and R^(9a) are each independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl,hydroxyalkyl, aryl, aryloxyalkyl, fluoro, trifluoromethyl, cyano,cyanomethyl, —OR′, —NR′₂, or —SR′, wherein each R′ is as defined above,preferably provided, however, that neither the —NR′₂ nor the —SR′functionality is conjugated with an alkenyl or alkynyl functionality.

The method comprises reacting an organometallic nucleophile R⁴Met, whereR⁴ is as given above and Met is a metal, with a nicotine or nicotineanalog starting material such as a compound of the formula (i) or (ii)as given above, and a compound of the formula R¹COX¹, wherein R¹ is asgiven above and X¹ is halo, to produce a compound of Formula I. In someembodiments the organometallic nucleophile is a Grignard reagent.Grignard reagents suitable for carrying out the present invention can beprepared in accordance with known techniques, including but not limitedto those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,617,282; 6,608,212; 6,603,000;6,600,040; 6,593,471; 6,590,125; 6,590,125; 6,590,103; 6,579,993;6,570,107; 6,569,799; etc. In general, Grignard reagents may be preparedfrom magnesium which may be in the form of magnesium granules, magnesiumturnings, magnesium dust, magnesium powder, suspension of magnesium inoil, and the like. To minimize safety risks, the use of magnesiumgranules is preferred. Preferred solvents for preparing the Grignardreagent comprise an organic solvent such as toluene, tetrahydrofuran(THF), diethyl ether, diglyme, methyl t-butyl ether, and mixturesthereof. The time and temperature of the reaction is not critical, butin general the reaction may be carried out from 1-24 hours at a lowtemperature (e.g., between −100 and 0 ° C.) in a suitable solvent suchas tetrahydrofuran, toluene, or an ether solvent, until the reaction isquenched by addition of a suitable quenching agent such as water oraqueous ammonium chloride. Compounds of Formula I produced by suchmethods are optionally but preferably enantiomerically pure, and mayoptionally but in some embodiments preferably bear a group R⁴ that isdifferent from at least one, or all of, groups R², R⁶, and R⁷. In someembodiments R⁴ is alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, or aryl. In some embodiments,R⁴ is SiR²⁰R²¹R²², and wherein R²⁰, R²¹ and R²² are each independentlyselected from the group consisting, of alkyl alkenyl, alkynyl and aryl.In some embodiments, R¹ is alkyl.

A further aspect of the present invention, as also noted above, is amethod of making a compound of Formula II:

wherein A, B, R², R⁴, R⁵, R⁶, R⁷, R⁹, and R^(9a) are as described above.The method comprises oxidizing a compound of Formula I as describedabove in an organic solvent such as toluene to produce a compound ofFormula II. The oxidizing step may be carried out with any suitableoxidizing agent, including but not limited to air, sulfur, nitric acid,KMnO₄, ceric ammonium nitrate, chloranil and2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone. The time and temperature ofthe oxidizing step is not critical and will usually depend upon theparticular oxidizing agent used, but may be from one hour to two to fourdays, and a temperature between room temperature and 150° C. (e.g., byrefluxing in toluene). The method may be utilized to produceenantiomerically pure C4-substituted nicotine analogs, e.g., compoundsof Formula II, particularly compounds in which R⁴ is different from atleast one, two, or all three of R², R⁵ and R⁶. One embodiment isenantiomerically pure compounds subject to the proviso that R⁴ isdifferent from at least one, two, or all three of of R², R⁵ and R⁶;another embodiment is enantiomerically pure compounds of Formula IIwherein R⁴ is SiR²⁰R²¹R²², wherein R²⁰, R²¹ and R²² are eachindependently selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl,alkynyl and aryl; wherein A, B, R², R⁵, R⁶, R⁷, R⁹, and R^(9a) are asdescribed above.

The invention further provides a method of making a compound of FormulaIII:

wherein:

A, B, R², R⁵, R⁶, R⁷, R⁹, and R^(9a) are as described above;

the method comprises oxidizing a compound of Formula II as describedabove, where R⁴ is SiR²⁰R²¹R²², to produce a compound of Formula III.The oxidizing step is preferrably carried out in a polar protic solventto produce a compound of Formula III. Example solvents include but arenot limited to methanol, ethanol, propanol, and butanol, includingmixtures thereof. The oxidizing step is preferably carried out with aperoxide oxidizing agent such as hydrogen peroxide in the presence offluoride, which may be provided by any suitable fluoride source such asKHF₂. The time and temperature of the reaction is not critical, but ingeneral may be from 1-24 hours, and may conveniently be carried out at atemperature between room temperature and 100° C. Enantiomerically purecompounds of Formula III which can be produced by such processes arealso an aspect of the invention, as noted above.

Utility. Compounds of the present invention are useful in the mannersdescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,594,011 to McDonald et al. and U.S. Pat.No. 5,723,477 to McDonald et al. In summary, methods and intermediatesof the present invention are useful for producing pharmacologically andpharmaceutically active compounds, including compounds useful for thetreatment of neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease,Alzheimer's disease, motor dysfunction and cognitive impairment in humanand animal subjects (particularly mammalian subjects such as dogs, cats,and non-human primates), as well as compounds for use as an alternativeto nicotine as an aid to smoking cessation programs, as insecticides,etc. Dosage of the compound may be determined in accordance withstandard techniques, but in some embodiments will be from 0.001 or 0.05mg/kg/day, up to about 10 or 100 mg/kg/day.

The compounds disclosed herein can be prepared in the form of theirpharmaceutically acceptable salts. Pharmaceutically acceptable salts aresalts that retain the desired biological activity of the parent compoundand do not impart undesired toxicological effects. Examples of suchsalts are acid addition salts formed with inorganic acids, for examplehydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid,nitric acid and the like; and salts formed with organic acids such as,for example, acetic acid, oxalic acid, tartaric acid, succinic acid,maleic acid, fumaric acid, gluconic acid, citric acid, malic acid,ascorbic acid, benzoic acid, tannic acid, palmitic acid, alginic acid,polyglutamic acid, napthalenesulfonic acid, methanesulfonic acid,p-toluenesulfonic acid, naphthalenedisulfonic acid, polygalacturonicacid, and the like.

The compounds described above may be formulated for administration in apharmaceutical carrier in accordance with known techniques. Sue, e.g.,Remington, The Science And Practice of Pharmacy (9^(th) Ed. 1995). Inthe manufacture of a pharmaceutical formulation according to theinvention, the active compound (including the physiologically acceptablesalts thereof) is typically admixed with, inter alia. an acceptablecarrier. The carrier must, of course, be acceptable in the sense ofbeing compatible with any other ingredients in the formulation and mustnot be deleterious to the patient. The carrier may be a solid or aliquid, or both, and is preferably formulated with the compound as aunit-dose formulation, for example, a tablet, which may contain from0.01 or 0.5% to 95% or 99% by weight of the active compound. One or moreactive compounds may be incorporated in the formulations of theinvention, which may be prepared by any of the well known techniques ofpharmacy consisting essentially of admixing the components, optionallyincluding one or more accessory ingredients.

The formulations of the invention include those suitable for oral,rectal, topical, buccal (e.g., sub-lingual), vaginal, parenteral (e.g.,subcutaneous, intramuscular, intradermal, or intravenous), topical(i.e., both skin and mucosal surfaces, including airway surfaces) andtransdermal administration, although the most suitable route in anygiven case will depend on the nature and severity of the condition beingtreated and on the nature of the particular active compound which isbeing used.

Formulations suitable for oral administration may be presented indiscrete units, such as capsules, cachets, lozenges, or tablets, eachcontaining a predetermined amount of the active compound; as a powder orgranules; as a solution or a suspension in an aqueous or non-aqueousliquid; or as an oil-in-water or water-in-oil emulsion. Suchformulations may be prepared by any suitable method of pharmacy whichincludes the step of bringing into association the active compound and asuitable carrer (which may contain one or more accessory ingredients asnoted above). In general, the formulations of the invention are preparedby uniformly and intimately admixing the active compound with a liquidor finely divided solid carrier, or both, and then, if necessary,shaping the resulting mixture. For example, a tablet may be prepared bycompressing or molding a powder or granules containing the activecompound, optionally with one or more accessory ingredients. Compressedtablets may be prepared by compressing, in a suitable machine, thecompound in a free-flowilng form, such as a powder or granulesoptionally mixed with a binder, lubricant, inert diluent, and/or surfaceactive/dispersing agent(s). Molded tablets may be made by molding, in asuitable machine, the powdered compound moistened with an inert liquidbinder.

Formulations suitable for buccal (sub-lingual) administration includelozenges comprising the active compound in a flavoured base, usuallysucrose and acacia or tragacanth; and pastilles comprising the compoundin an inert base such as gelatin and glycerin or sucrose and acacia.

Formulations of the present invention suitable for parenteraladministration comprise sterile aqueous and non-aqueous injectionsolutions of the active compound, which preparations are preferablyisotonic with the blood of the intended recipient. These preparationsmay contain anti-oxidants, buffers, bacteriostats and solutes whichrender the formulation isotonic with the blood of the intendedrecipient. Aqueous and non-aqueous sterile suspensions may includesuspending agents and thickening agents. The formulations may bepresented in unit/dose or multi-dose containers, for example sealedampoules and vials, and may be stored in a freeze-dried (lyophilized)condition requiring only the addition of the sterile liquid carrier, forexample, saline or water-for-injection immediately prior to use.Extemporaneous injection solutions and suspensions may be prepared fromsterile powders, granules and tablets of the kind previously described.For example, in one aspect of the present invention, there is providedan injectable, stable, sterile composition comprising a compound of theinvention, or a salt thereof, in a unit dosage form in a sealedcontainer. The compound or salt is provided in the form of alyophilizate which is capable of being reconstituted with a suitablepharmaceutically acceptable carrier to form a liquid compositionsuitable for injection thereof into a subject. When the compound or saltis substantially water-insoluble, a sufficient amount of emulsifyingagent which is physiologically acceptable may be employed in sufficientquantity to emulsify the compound or salt in an aqueous carrier. Onesuch useful emulsifying agent is phosphatidyl choline.

Formulations suitable for rectal administration are preferably presentedas unit dose suppositories. These may be prepared by admixing the activecompound with one or more conventional solid carriers, for example,cocoa butter, and then shaping the resulting mixture.

Formulations suitable for topical application to the skin preferablytake the form of an ointment, cream, lotion, paste, gel, spray, aerosol,or oil. Carriers which may be used include petroleum jelly, lanoline,polyethylene glycols, alcohols, transdermal enhancers, and combinationsof two or more thereof.

Formulations suitable for transdermal administration may be presented asdiscrete patches adapted to remain in intimate contact with theepidermis of the recipient for a prolonged period of time. Formulationssuitable for transdermal administration may also be delivered byiontophoresis (see, for example, Pharmaceutical Research 3 (6):318(1986)) and typically take the form of an optionally buffered aqueoussolution of the active compound. Suitable formulations comprise citrateor bis\tris buffer (pH 6) or ethanol/water and in some embodimentscontain from 0.1 to 0.2M active ingredient.

The present invention is explained in greater detail in the followingnon-limiting Examples.

EXAMPLE 1 Preparation of1-[4-(Dimethylphenylsilanyl)-3-(1-methylpyrrolidin-2-yl)-4H-pyridin-1-yl]-2,2-dimethylpropan-1-one(I)

First a solution of (dimethylphenylsilyl)magnesium bromide (4 mmol) inTHF was prepared according to our previous procedure and cooled to −78°C. A solution of CuBr·SMe₂ (0.4 g, 2 mmol) in 4 mL of diisopropylsulfide was added dropwise to the solution of the Grignard reagentprepared above. The resulting solution was then stirred at −78°C. for 30min during which time it turned brown-orange. In the meantime, asolution of nicotine (0.16 mL, 1 mmol) in 1 mL of THF was cooled to 0°C. and was treated with pivaloyl chloride (0.12 mL, 1 mmol). The saltwas stirred at 0° C. for 1.5 h. It was then cooled to −78° C. and thesolution of cuprate prepared above was injected via a double tippedneedle surrounded by dry ice. The reaction mixture was then stirred at−78° C. for 4 h and then at −30° C. overnight. After warming to roomtemperature, the mixture was quenched with a saturated aqueous solutionof NH₄Cl. The aqueous phase was extracted 3 times with ether. Thecombined organic layers were washed 3 times with 20% NH₄Cl/NH₄OH(50:50), 1 time with water, one time with brine and then dried overK₂CO₃. The solvent was removed under reduced pressure to afford 0.6 g ofcrude material. Purification by radial PLC (5% EtOAc/hexanes) yielded0.312 (81% ) of product I as a mixture of diastereomers and 0.04 g (25%)of nicotine. The diastereomers were separated by RPLC (hexanes) and thede was determined to be 68%.

Diastereomer Ia: IR (neat) 2960, 1649, 1321, 1115, 814 cm³¹ ¹; ¹HNMR(400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 7.49-7.29 (m, 6 H), 6.97 (s, 1 H), 4.99 (dd, 1 H,J=5.6 and 7.2 Hz), 2.99 (t, 1 H, J=7.2 Hz), 2.36 (d, 1 H, J=5.6 Hz),2.31 (t, 1 H, J=8 Hz), 2.15 (s, 3 H), 2.06-1.00 (m, 14 H). 0.35-0.29 (m,6 H): ¹³C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 172.4, 148.7, 146.4, 133.1, 133.5,129.1, 128.9, 127.6, 127.4, 123.7, 118.6, 110.2, 68.1, 66.8, 56.6, 40.8,38.7, 35.4, 32.1, 30.1, 27.6, −1.5, −1.6. HRMS Calcd for C₂₃H₃₄N₂OSi:383.2519 [M+H]⁺. Found: 383.2520 [M+H]³⁰. [α]_(D) ²⁵ −67.3 (c 4,CH₂Cl₂).

Diastereomer Ib: IR (neat) 2960, 1849, 1321 cm⁻; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃)δ 7.51-7.29 (m, 6 H), 6.86 (s, 1 H), 4.97 (t, 1 H, J=6.6 Hz), 3.75-3.1(m, 2 H), 2.88 (t, 1 H, J=6.4 Hz), 2.45-1.57 (m, 8 H), 1.27 (s, 9 H),0.35 (s, 3 H), 0.31 (s, 3 H); ¹³C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 172.6, 149.0,146.7, 137.7, 133.9, 133.8, 128.8, 127.8, 127.6, 127.4, 111.5, 69.5,56.5, 56.1, 40.3, 39.8, 39.0, 27.7, 27.5, 22.9, 22.4, −1.3, −1.4; HRMSCalcd for C₂₃H₃₄N₂OSi: 383.2519 [M+H]⁺. Found: 383.2520 [M+H]⁺. [α]_(D)²⁵ +23.8 (c 7, CH₂Cl₂).

EXAMPLE 2 Preparation of4-(Dimethylphenylsilanyl)-3-(1-methylpyrrolidin-2-yl)pyridine (II)

To a solution of I (1 g, 2.6 mmol) in 80 mL of toluene was addedsublimed sulfur (0.09 g, 2.6 mmol). The reaction mixture was stirred andheated at 90° C. for 2 days. Evaporation of the solvent under reducedpressure afforded 1.11 g of crude product. Purification by radial PLC(5% EtOAc/hexanes) yielded 0.6 g (76%) of product II as a yellow oil. IR(neat) 2950, 2774, 1579, 1427, 1251 cm⁻; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.72(s, 1 H), 8.27 (d, 1 H, J=6.8 Hz), 7.31-7.13 (m, 6 H), 3.03 (t, 1 H,J=10.8 Hz), 2.95-2.90 (m, 1 H), 1.97-1.86 (m, 2 H), 1.69 (s, 3 H); ¹³CNMR (100 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 148.6, 146.2, 145.4, 144.3, 137.0, 133.5, 132.6,128.9, 128.0, 127.5, 127.1, 68.0, 56.0, 39.4, 35.3, 22.1, −1.69, −1.74,HRMS Calcd for C₁₈H₂₄N₂Si: 297.1787 [M+H]⁺. Found: 297.1801 [M+H]⁺.[α]_(D) ²⁵ −82.05 (c 4, CH₂Cl₂).

EXAMPLE 3 Preparation of 3-(1-Methylpyrrolidin-2-yl)pyridin-4-ol (III)

To a solution of II (0.9 g, 3.2 mmol) in 10 mL of methanol was addedpotassium hydrogen fluoride (0.25 g, 3.2 mmol). A solution of 30%hydrogen peroxide in water (0.88 mL, 7.7 mmol) was slowly added, and thereaction mixture was stirred and heated at 55° C. for 8 h. To the crudemixture was added K₂CO₃ until the pH of the solution became slightlybasic (pH 8-9). After filtration of the solid and evaporation of thesolvent, the crude product was purified by radial PLC. (EtOAc) to yield82% of III as a white solid. IR (neat) 2598, 23448, 1643 cm⁻¹; ¹H NMR(300 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.68 (s, 1 H), 8.58-8.56 (m, 1 H), 8.12 (dd, 1 H,J=1.5 and 8 Hz), 7.47 (dd, 1 H, J=5.1 and 8 Hz), 4.61 (dd, 1 H, J=7.2and 12 Hz), 3.79-3.59 (m, 2 H). 2.94 (s, 3 H), 2.72-2.1 (m, 4 H); ¹³CNMR (75 MHz, CD₃OD) δ 170.5, 152.8, 151.4, 141.3, 124.9, 78.3, 71.4,54.1, 29.5, 21.1. HRMS Calcd for C₁₀H₁₄N₂O: 179.1184. Found: 179.1190[M+H] +. [α]_(D) ²⁵: +23.8 (c=0.8, MeOH). IR (neat) 2598, 23448, 1643cm⁻¹; ¹H NMR (300 MHz,) δ 8.68 (s, 1 H), 8.58-8.56 (m, 1 H), 8.12 (dd, 1H, J=1.5 and 8 Hz), 7.47 (dd, 1 H, J=5.1 and 8 Hz), 4.61 (dd, 1 H, J=7.2and 12 Hz), 3.79-3.59 (m, 2 H), 2.94 (s, 3 H). 2.72-2.1 (m, 4 H); ¹³CNMR (75 MHz, CD₃OD) δ 170.5, 152.8 151.4, 141.3, 124.9, 78.3, 71.4,54.1, 29.5, 21.1. HRMS Calcd for C₁₀H₁₄N₂O: 179.1184. Found: 179.1190[M+H]+. [α]_(D) ²⁵ +23.8 (c 8, MeOH).

EXAMPLE 4 3-((2S)-1-Methylpyrrolidin-2-yl)-4-phenylpyridine

1-[(4S)-3-((2S)-1-Methylpyrrolidin-2-yl)-4-phenyl((1,4-dihydropyridyl)]-2,2-dimethylpropan-1-one(49.1 mg, 0.15 mmol) was dissolved in 2 mL of toluene. Sulfur (5 mg, 1.0mmol) was added and the solution was refluxed for 32 h. The solution wasevaporated to dryness and the residue purified by radial PLC (silicagel, 1% TEA/EtOAc) to give 21.4 mg (59%) of a white solid: mp 87-89° C.;IR (CHCl₃) 702, 843, 1042, 1004, 1473, 1587, 2779, 2966 cm⁻¹; ¹H NMR(CDCl₃, 400 MHz) δ 1.80 to 1.72 (m, 2H), 2.00 to 1.88 (m, 1 H), 2.08 to2.05 (m, 1 H), 2.10 (s, 3H), 2.16 to 2.12 (m, 2H), 3.17 (t, 1H, J=7.6Hz), 7.08 (d, 1H, J=5.2 Hz), 7.26 to 7.24 (m, 2H), 7.44 to 7.43 (m, 3H),8.49 (d, 1H, J=5.2 Hz), 8.92 (s, 1H); ¹³C NMR (CDCl₃, 100 MHz) δ 23.0,35.8, 40.6, 57.0, 65.4, 124.0, 128.1, 128.5, 128.9, 139.0, 147.5, 149.8.150.2. HRMS Calcd. for C₁₆H₁₈N₂: 239.1548. Found: 239.1561. [α]_(D) ²⁵−131.5 (c 1, EtOH).

EXAMPLE 51-[(4S)-3-((2S)-1-Methylpyrrolidin-2-yl)-4-phenyl((1,4-dihydropyridyl)]-2,2-dimethylpropan-1-one

Pivaloyl chloride (0.123 mL, 1.0 mmol) was added dropwise to a solutionof nicotine (0.16 mL, 1.0 mmol) in 2 mL of THF at 0° C., and theresulting solution was stirred for 1 hour to form a heterogenous mixturecontaining the white, solid 1-acyl pyridinium salt. Concurrently,phenylmagnesium bromide (1.1 mL, 1.1 mmol) was added slowly to asolution of CuBr·DMS (164 mg, 0.8 mmol) in 5 mL of THF at −78° C., andthe resulting yellow-orange solution was stirred for 30 min. Thesolution was cooled to −78° C., and the organocopper reagent was addedvia a double tipped needle. The resulting mixture was stirred for 3 h.The reaction mixture was quenched with 2 mL of saturated NH₄Cl, and thewhite solid that formed was removed by vacuum filtration. The filtratewas extracted with EtOAc (3×10 mL), and the combined organic extractswere washed with 10% NH₄OH (aq) until the persistent blue color vanishedfrom the organic phase. The organic layer was washed with saturatedaqueous NaHCO₃, dried (K₂CO₃), filtered over Celite, and concentrated invacuo. The crude yellow oil was purified by radial PLC (silica gel, 1%TEA/EtOAc) to give 245 mg (76%) of product as a light yellow solid: mp84-85° C.; IR (CHCl₃) 2970, 2776, 1739, 1661, 1455, 1311, 1209, 1151,1014, 968, 888, 761, 700 cm⁻¹; ¹H NMR (CDCl₃, 400 MHz) δ 1.32 to 1.13(m, 2H), 1.39 (s, 9H), 1.52 to 1.43 (m 1H), 1.68 to 1.57 (m, 1H), 2.02(q, 1H, J=9.6 Hz), 2.10 (s, 3H), 2.36 (t, 1H, J=8.0 Hz), 2.98 (t, 1H,J=8.8 Hz), 3.92 (d, 1H, J=4.0 Hz), 5.09 (dd, 1H, J=8.0 Hz and 4.4 Hz),7.28 to 7.17 (m, 6H), 7.41 (s, 1H); ¹³C NMR (CDCl₃, 100 MHz) δ 22.8,28.5, 34.1, 39.761, 40.7, 44.1, 56.6, 70.0, 111.4, 120.6, 123.0, 126.9,128.5, 128.7, 145.5, 174.2. HRMS Calcd. for C₂₁H₂₈N₂O: 325.2280. Found:325.2286. [α]_(D) ²⁵−25.2 (c 1, EtOH).

EXAMPLE 6 1-[3-((2S)-1-Methylpyrrolidin-2-yl)-4-methyl((1,4-dihydropyridyl)]-2.2-dimethylpropan-1-one

Light yellow oil. [α]_(D) ²³ −64 (c 4.5, EtOH). IR (neat), 739, 939,1043, 1158, 1208, 1317, 1403, 1477, 1632, 1659, 2775, 2967 cm⁻¹. ¹H NMR(CDCl₃, 400 MHz) δ 1.11 (d, J=6.8 Hz, 3H), 1.34 (s, 9H), 1.64 to 1.86(m, 3H), 1.88 to 1.96 (m, 1H). 2.10 (dd, J=17.2 Hz, 7.2 Hz, 1H), 2.21(s, 3H), 2.49 (t, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 2.89 (m, 1H), 3.09 (t, J=8.0 Hz, 1H),5.02 (dd, J=8.4 Hz, 4.8 Hz, 1H), 7.04 (d, J=8.4 Hz, 1H), 7.15 (s, 1H).¹³C NMR (CDCl₃, 75 MHz)δ 22.9, 23.6, 27.0, 28.4, 29.9, 23.2, 39.6, 40.8,57.1, 70.9, 113.7, 121.4, 123.3, 124.3, 1 73.9. HRMS (calculated:263.2123, found: 263.2127).

EXAMPLE 71-[3-((2S)-1-Methylpyrrolidin-2-yl)-4-butyl((1,4-dihydropyridyl)]-2,2-dimethylpropan-1-one

Light yellow oil. IR (neat) 739, 896, 928, 997, 1041, 1112, 1156, 1209,113, 1403, 1462, 1660, 2774, 2957 cm⁻¹. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃, 300 MHz) δ 0.84to 1.87 (t, J=5.1 Hz, 3H), 1.21 to 1.26 (m, 3H), 1.33 (s, 9H), 1.30 to2.09 (m, 7H), 2.19 (s, 3H), 2.47 to 2.49 (m, 1H), 2.86 to 2.87 (m, 1H),3.06 to 3.10 (m, 1H), 5.04 (dd, J=6.3 Hz, 3.6 Hz, 1H), 7.09 (d, J=6.0Hz, 1H), 7.18 (s, 1H). ¹³C NMR (CDCl₃, 100 MHz) δ 14.3, 23.0, 27.4,28.4, 32.5, 35.9, 39.6, 40.8, 57.0, 70.8, 111.7, 122.5, 123.0, 124.4,173.9. HRMS (calculated: 305.2593, found: 305.2601).

EXAMPLE 8 1-[(4S)-3-((2S)-1-Methylpyrrolidin-2-yl)-4-phenyl((1,4-dihydropyridyl)]-2,2-dimethylpropan-1-one

Yellow solid, mp 84-85° C. [α]_(D) ²³ −25.2 (c 1, EtOH). IR (neat) 700,762, 888, 968, 1015, 1151, 1209, 1311, 1403, 1455, 1661, 1739, 2776,2970 cm⁻¹. ¹HMR (CDCl₃, 400 MHz) δ 1.12 to 1.32 (m, 2H), 1.39 (s, 9H),1.43 to 1.52 (m, 1H), 1.57 to 1.68 (m, 1H), 2.02 (q, J=9.6H, 1H, 2.10(s, 3H), 2.36 (t, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 2.98 (t, J=8.8 Hz, 1H), 3.92 (d, J=4.0Hz, 1H), 5.09 (dd, J=8.0 Hz, 4.4 Hz, 1H), 7.17 to 7.28 (m, 6H). 7.41 (s,1H). ¹³C NMR (CDC₃, 75 MHz) δ 22.8, 28.5, 34.1, 39.8, 40.7, 44.1, 56.6,70.0, 111.4, 120.6, 123.0, 126.9, 128.5, 128.7, 145.5, 174.2. HRMS(calculated: 325.2280, found: 325.2286).

EXAMPLE 9 1-[3-((2S)-1-Methylpyrrolidin-2-yl)-4-benzyl((1,4-dihydropyridyl)]-2,2-dimethylpropan-1-one

Light yellow oil. IR (neat) 701, 742, 900, 977, 1023, 1153, 1212, 1306,1400, 1453, 1494, 1629, 1658, 2774, 2950 Cm⁻¹. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃, 300 MHz) δ1.33 (s, 9H), 1.75 to 2.01 (m, 4H), 2.13 to 2.17 (m, 1H), 2.3 (s, 3H),2.37 (dd, J=12.4 Hz, 2 Hz, 1H ), 2.64 (t, J=7.6 Hz, 1H), 3.11 (m, 2H),3.27 (dd, J=12.4 Hz, 8.8 Hz, 1H), 4.84 (dd, J=8.4 Hz, 3.2 Hz, 1H), 7.01(d, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 7.15 to 7.29 (m, 6H). ¹³C NMR (CDCl₃, 75 MHz) δ 23.4,26.7, 28.4, 31.9, 37.3, 39.7, 40.9, 43.7, 57.1, 71.0, 111.0, 122.7,124.2, 126.1, 128.4, 1 29.6, 139.8, 174.1. HRMS (calculated: 339.2436.found: 339.2447).

EXAMPLE 10 3-((2S)-1-Methylpyrrolidin-2-yl)-4-butylpyridine

Clear oil. [α]_(D) ²³ −109.8 (c 2, EtOH). IR(neat) 837, 902, 1044, 1210,1407, 1458, 1593, 2778, 2871, 2957 cm⁻¹. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃, 400 Mz) δ 0.94(t, 3H, J=7.2 Hz), 1.34 to 1.42 (m, 2H), 1.51 to 1.55 (m 2H), 1.61 to1.69 (m, 1H), 1.78 to 1.82 (m, 1H), 1.95 to 1.97 (m, 1H), 2.17 (s, 3H),2.19 to 2.30 (m, 2H), 2.63 (t, 2H, J=8.0 Hz), 3.25 (dt, 1H, J=8.4 Hz and1.6 Hz), 3.32 (t, 1H, J=8.4 Hz), 7.01 (d, 1H, J=5.2 Hz), 8.34 (d, 1H,J=5.2 Hz), 8.71 (s, 1H). ¹³C NMR (CDCl₃, 100 MHz) δ 14.1, 22.9, 31.7,33.0, 34.9, 40.8, 57.5, 65.5, 123.8, 136.8, 147.8, 149.4, 149.7. HRMS(calculated: 219.1861, found: 219.1855).

EXAMPLE 11 3-((2S)-1-Methylpyrrolidin-2-yl)-4-benzylpyridine

Clear oil. [α]_(D) ²³ −113.9 (c 2, EtOH). IR (neat) 703, 762, 1045,1253, 1456, 1590, 1718, 2355, 2846, 2932 cm⁻¹. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃ 400 MHz) δ1.54 to 1.64 (m, 1H), 1.70 to 1.79 (m, 1H), 1.89 to 1.95 (m, 1H), 1.98to 2.65 (m, 1H), 2.11 (s, 3H), 2.22 (dd, 1H, J=17.6 Hz and 8.0 Hz), 3.21(dt, 1H, J=8.2 Hz and 2.0 Hz), 3.33 (t, 1H, J=8.0 Hz), 4.07 (s, 2H),6.96 (d, 1H, J=5.2 Hz), 7.08 to 7.10 (m, 2H), 7.22 to 7.31 (m, 3H). 8.39(d, 1H, J=4.8 Hz), 8.76 (s, 1H). ¹³C NMR (CDCl₃, 100 MHz) δ 22.9, 34.4,38.0, 40.7, 57.1, 65.9, 125.0, 126.7, 128.8, 129.1, 137.4, 139.4, 147.6,148.1, 149.8. HRMS (calculated: 253.1705, found: 253.1695).

EXAMPLE 121-[3-((2S)-1-Methylpyrrolidin-2-yl)-4-furanyl((1,4-dihydropyridyl)]-2,2-dimethylpropan-1-one

Freshly distilled furan (1.29 mL, 17.8 mmol) was added dropwise ton-BuLi (8.5 mL, 17.8 mmol) in 5 mL THF at −20° C. and stirred for 0.5hours. The resulting lithiate was canulated into a suspension ofmagnesium bromide etherate (4.6 g, 17.8 mmol) in 10 mL THF and stirredat room temperature for 1 hour. The mixture turned brown in color. Next,the Grignard reagent was added slowly to a solution of CuBr·DMS; (1.73g, 8.4 mmol) in 15 mL of THF at −78° C., and the resulting,yellow-orange organocopper reagent was stirred for 30 minutes.Concurrently in a separate flask, pivaloyl chloride (985 μL, 8 mmol) wasadded to nicotine (1.28 mL, 8 mmol) in 5 mL of THF at 0° C., and themixture was stirred for 1 hour to form a heterogenous mixture containingthe white, solid 1-acyl pyridinium salt. The mixture was cooled to −78°C., and the organocopper reagent was added via a jacketed (dry ice)double tipped needle. The resulting mixture was stirred for 12 hours.The reaction mixture was quenched with 2 mL of saturated NH₄Cl, and thewhite solid formed was removed by vacuum filtration. The filtrate wasextracted with EtOAc (3×10 mL), and the combined organic extracts werewashed with 10% NH₄OH (aq) until the persistent blue color vanished fromthe organic phase. The organic layer was washed with saturated aqueousNaHCO₃, dried (K₂CO₃), filtered over Celite, and concentrated in vacuo.The crude yellow oil was purified by radial PLC (silica gel, 1%TEA:EtOAc) to give 1.94 g (77%) of product. [α]_(D) ²⁵; −33.8 (c 2,EtOH. IR (neat) 739, 843, 1015, 1184, 1266, 1409, 1480, 1598, 1666,2968, 3052, 3406 cm⁻¹. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃ 300 MHz) δ 1.26 (m, 1H), 1.38 (s,9H), 1.72 to 1.39 (m, 3H), 2.09 (q, 1H, J=9.2 Hz), 2.16 (s, 3H), 2.44(t, 1H, J=7.6 Hz), 3.02 (t, 1H, 9.0 Hz), 4.13 (d, 1H, J=4.0 Hz), 5.04(q, 1H, J=3.2 Hz), 6.05 (d, 1H, J=32 Hz), 6.28 (m, 1H), 7.25 (d, 1H,J=8.0 Hz), 7.30 (s, 1H), 7.39 (s, 1H); ¹³C NMR (CDCl₃, 100 MHz) δ 22.8,27.0, 28.5, 32.9, 36.8, 39.7, 40.8, 56.8, 69.4, 106.2, 107.8, 110.6,111.9, 118.2, 120.3, 121.0, 124.3, 141.4, 145.2, 157.1 174.2. HRMS(calculated: 315.2073, found: 315.2086.

EXAMPLE 13 Preparation of1-[4-tert-butoxymethyl-3-(1-methylpyrrolidin-2-yl)-4H-pyridin-1-yl]-2,2-dimethyl-propan-1-one

Potassium tert-butoxide (0.5 g 4 mmol) was suspended in 16 mL oftert-butylmethyl ether (TBME). After cooling at −78° C., the wellstirred mixture was treated with tert-butyllithium (3 mL, 4 mmol) over 2min. A bright orange color was observed and stirring, at −78° C. wascontinued for 2 h. A solution of CuBr·SMe₂ (0.4 g, 2 mmol) in isopropylsulfide (3 mL) and TBME (5 mL) was slowly added. The resulting cupratesolution was stirred at −78° C. for 40 min.

In a separate flask, a solution of nicotine (0.16 mL, 1 mmol) in THF (1mL) was cooled to 0° C. and treated with pivaloyl chloride (0.12 mL, 1mmol). The mixture was stirred at 0° C. for 1.5 h. It was then cooled to−78° C. and treated with the cuprate solution prepared above. Thereaction mixture was stirred for 3 h at −78° C. After addition of asaturated aqueous solution of NH₄Cl (20 mL), the aqueous layer wasextracted with EtOAc (3×). The combined organic layers were washed with20% NH₄Cl/NH₄OH, water and brine and were dried over K₂CO₃. Afterevaporation of the solvent under reduced pressure, the crude materialwas purified by radial PLC (hexanes) to afford 0.217 g (58%) of1-[4-tert-butoxymethyl-3-(1-methylpyrrolidin-2-yl)-4H-pyridin-1-yl]-2,2-dimethyl-propan-1-oneas a yellow oil. IR (thin film, neat, NaCl) 2968, 1661, 1311 cm⁻¹; ¹HNMR (CDCl₃, 400 MHz) δ 7.21 (s, 1 H), 7.07 (d, 1 H, J=8 Hz), 5.24 (dd, 1H, J=4.8 and 8 Hz), 3.58 (dd, 1 H, J=4 and 8 Hz), 3.12 (t, 1 H, J=8.8Hz), 3.07-3.00 (m, 2 H), 2.57 (t, 1 H, J=6.8 Hz), 2.28-2.08 (m, 5 H),1.94-1.70 (m, 4 H), 1.35-1.12 (m, 19 H); ¹³C NMR (CDCl₃, 100 MHz) δ173.4, 173.3. 123.7, 122.9, 119.9, 110.3, 72.3, 72.2, 70.3, 66.0, 56.6,40.2, 39.1, 39.1, 36.2, 31.0, 28.0, 27.9, 27.3, 27.2, 22.6; HRMS Calcdfor C₂₀H₃₄N₂O₂; 335.2699 [M+H]⁺. Found: 335.2715 [M+H]⁺. [α]_(D) ²⁹ −9.6(c 4.3, CH₂Cl₂).

EXAMPLE 14 Preparation of4-tert-butoxymethyl-3-(1-methylpyrrolidin-2-yl)-pyridine

A solution of1-[4-tert-butoxymethyl-3-(1-methylpyrrolidin-2-yl)-4H-pyridin-1-yl]-2,2-dimethyl-propan-1-one(0.194 g 0.5 mmol), sulfur (0.02 g, 0.5 mmol) and toluene (5 mL) wasrefluxed for 1 day. After filtration of the mixture through a pad ofCelite and evaporation of the solvent under reduced pressure, the crudematerial was purified by radial PLC (hexanes) to afford 0.091 g (54%) of4-tert-butoxymethyl-3-(1-methylpyrrolidin-2-yl)-pyridine as a yellowoil. IR (thin film, neat, NaCl) 2970, 2778, 1594, 1362, 1193, 1088 cm⁻¹.¹H NMR (CDCl₃, 400 MHz) δ 8.72 (s, 1 H), 8.45 (d, 1 H, J=6.4 Hz), 7.40(d, 1 H, J=6.4 Hz), 4.52 (s, 2 H), 3.32-3.20 (m, 3 H), 2.32-2.22 (m, 2H), 2.18 (s, 3 H), 1.96-1.66 (m, 4 H), 1.29 (s, 9 H); ¹³C NMR (CDCl₃,100 MHz) δ 148.3, 147.7, 146.2, 135.3, 121.4, 73.4, 65.2, 59.6, 56.5,40.2, 33.7, 27.20, 22.4; HRMS Calcd for C₁₅H₂₄N₂O: 249.1967 [M+H]³⁰.Found: 249.1964 [M+H]+. [α]_(d) ^(2δ)-108.2 (c 3.4, CH₂Cl₂).

EXAMPLE 15 Preparation of1-[4-benzyloxymethyl-3-(1-methylpyrrolidin-2-yl)-4H-pyridin-1-yl]-2,2-dimethyl-propan-1-one

To a stirred solution of (benzyloxymethyl)tributyl stannane (preparedaccording to reference 1) (0.308 g, 0.75 mmol) in THF (0.75 mL) cooledat −78° C. was added n-butyllithium (0.35 mL, 0.75 mmol). After stirringat −78° C for 30 min. the Lipshultz reagent (3 mL. 0.75 mmol) wasintroduced dropwise, and the mixture was allowed to stir for 30 min at−78° C. In a separate flask, a stirred solution of nicotine (0.08 mL,0.5 mmol) in THF (1 mL) was cooled at 0° C and treated with pivaloylchloride (0.06 mL, 0.5 mmol). This solution was then stirred at 0° C.for 1.5 h. The cuprate solution prepared above was then transferred viaa double tipped needle surrounded by a layer of dry ice to thepyridinium salt of nicotine previously cooled to −78° C. After additionof a saturated aqueous solution of NH₄Cl (10 mL), the aqueous layer wasextracted with EtOAc (3×). The combined organic layers were washed with20% NH₄Cl/NH₄OH, water and brine, and were dried over K₂CO₃. Afterevaporation of the solvent under reduced pressure, the crude materialwas purified by radial PLC (hexanes) to afford 0.107 g (70%) of1-[4-benzyloxymethyl-3-(1-methylpyrrolidin-2-yl)-4H-pyridin-1-yl]-2,2-dimethyl-propan-1-oneas a yellow oil. IR (thin film neat, NaCl) 2928, 1772, 1724, 1656, 1599,1454, 1364, 1267, 1153, 1100 cm³¹ ¹: ¹H NMR (CDCl₃, 400 MHz) δ 7.01 6.94(m, 5 H), 6.80 (d, 1H, J=8 Hz), 4.93 (dd, 1 H, J=4.8 Hz and 8 Hz), 4.18(d, 2 H, J=6.8 Hz), 3.37 (dd, 1 H, J=4 Hz and 8.4 Hz), 3.05 (t, 1 H, J=8Hz), 2.87-2.83 (m, 1H), 2.74 (t, 1 H, J=7.6 Hz), 2.25 (t, 1H,J=7.6 Hz),1.85 (s, 3 H), 1.81-1.77 (m, 1 H), 1.58-1.37 (m, 4 H), 1.01 (s, 9 H);¹³C NMR (CDCl₃, 100 MHz) δ 173.65, 138.51, 128.09, 127.28, 127.22,124.40, 123.45, 119.32, 109.80, 74.32, 72.78, 70.55, 56.69, 40.32,39.31, 35.62, 30.74, 28.06, 22.74; HRMS Calcd for C₂₃H₃₂N₂O₂: 369.2542[M+H]⁺. Found: 369.2543 [M+H]⁺. [α]²⁸ _(D)26.6 (c 5.6, CH₂Cl₂).Reference 1: Kaufman T. S. Synlett, 1997, 1377.

EXAMPLE 16 Preparation of4-benzyloxymethyl-3-(1-methylpyrrolidin-2-yl)-pyridine

A solution of1-[4-benzyloxymethyl-3-(1-methylpyrrolidin-2-yl)-4H-pyridin-1-yl]-2,2-dimethyl-propan-1-one(0.176 g, 0.48 mmol), sulfur (0.015 g. 0.48 mmol) and toluene (5 mL) wasrefluxed for 3 days. After filtration of the mixture through a pad ofCelite and evaporation of the solvent under reduced pressure, the crudematerial was purified by radial PLC (hexanes) to afford 0.08 g (60%) of4-benzyloxymethyl-3-(1-methylpyrrolidin-2-yl) -pyridine as a yellow oil.IR (thin film, neat, NaCl) 3436, 1637, 1090 cm⁻¹; ¹H NMR (CDCl₃, 300MHz) δ 8.74 (s, 1 H), 8.47 (d, 1 H, J=4.8 Hz), 7.40-7.27 (m, 6 H), 4.62(d, 2 H,J=13. 2 Hz), 3.34-3.18 (m, 2 H), 2.28-2.18 (m, 2 H), 2.15 (s, 3H), 2.11-1.09 (m, 5 H); ¹³C NMR (CDCl₃, 75 MHz) δ 149.31, 148.37,145.16, 137.86, 128.67, 128.06, 127.98, 122.14, 72.92, 68.19, 65.88,57.07, 40.75, 34.28, 27.83, 22.91; HRMS Calcd for C₁₈H₂₂N₂O: 283.1810[M+H]⁺. Found: 283.1800 [M+H]⁺. [α]_(D) ²⁴−75.9 (c 2.5, CH₂Cl₂).

The foregoing is illustrative of the present invention, and is not to beconstrued as limiting thereof. The invention is defined by the followingclaims, with equivalents of the claims to be included therein.

1. A method of making a compound of Formula II:

wherein: R⁴ is SiR²⁰R²¹R²², wherein R²⁰, R²¹ and R²² are eachindependently selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl,alkynyl and aryl; R², R⁵, and R⁶ are each independently selected fromthe group consisting of H, alkyl, aryl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkoxy, andhalo; R⁷ is selected from the group consisting of consisting of H andalkyl; A is a 1, 2 or 3 atom bridging species which forms part of asaturated or monounsaturated 5-, 6- or 7-membered ring including N⁷, C⁸,C⁹ and B; B is selected from —O—, —S—, —NR¹⁰—, wherein R¹⁰ is selectedfrom hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, alkylaryl, substitutedalkylaryl, arylalkyl, substituted arylalkyl; —C¹⁰HR^(10a)—, whereinR^(10a) is selected from hydrogen, alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, aryl,aryloxyalkyl, fluoro, trifluoromethyl, cyano, cyanomethyl, —OR′, —NR′₂,or —SR′, wherein each R′ is independently hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl,alkynyl or aryl; or B is ═C¹⁰R^(10a) or ═N—; and R⁹ and R^(9a) are eachindependently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, aryl,aryloxyalkyl, fluoro, trifluoromethyl, cyano, cyanomethyl, —OR′, —NR′₂,or —SR′, wherein each R′ is as defined above; comprising oxidizing acompound of Formula I:

wherein A, B, R², R⁴, R⁵, R⁶, R⁷, R⁹, and R^(9a) are as given above, andR¹ is alkyl, aryl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkoxy, —NR″₂ or —SR″, where R″ isalkyl, aryl, alkenyl, alkynyl, or alkoxy, in suitable solvent to producea compound of Formula II.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said solventis toluene.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein said oxidizing step iscarried out with an oxidizing agent selected from the group consistingof air, sulfur, nitric acid, KMnO₄, ceric ammonium nitrate, chloraniland 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone.
 4. An enantiomericallypure compound of Formula II:

wherein: R⁴ is SiR²⁰R²¹R²², wherein R²⁰, R²¹ and R²² are eachindependently selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl,alkynyl and aryl; R², R⁵, and R⁶ are each independently selected fromthe group consisting of H, alkyl, aryl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkoxy, andhalo; R⁷ is selected from the group consisting of consisting of H andalkyl; A is a 1, 2 or 3 atom bridging species which forms part of asaturated or monounsaturated 5-, 6- or 7-membered ring including N⁷, C⁸,C⁹ and B; B is selected from —O—, —S—, —NR¹⁰—, wherein R¹⁰ is selectedfrom hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, alkylaryl, substitutedalkylaryl, arylalkyl, substituted arylalkyl; —C¹⁰HR^(10a)—, whereinR^(10a) is selected from hydrogen, alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, aryl,aryloxyalkyl, fluoro, trifluoromethyl, cyano, cyanomethyl, —OR′, —NR′₂,or —SR′, wherein each R′ is independently hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl,alkynyl or aryl; or B is ═C¹⁰R^(10a) or ═N—; and R9 and R9 are eachindependently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, aryl,aryloxyalkyl, fluoro, trifluoromethyl, cyano, cyanomethyl, —OR′, —NR′₂,or —SR′, wherein each R′ is as defined above.
 5. The compound of claim4, wherein R², R⁵, and R⁶ are each independently selected from the groupconsisting of H, alkyl, aryl, alkenyl, and alkynyl.